NHTSA Complaint #11659809 — 2003 SUBARU BAJA

Vehicle purchased in NC in April, 2025. Registered the vehicle in VA (where I live) a week later once I received the NC title. On [XXX], I took the vehicle to get it inspected. It failed the Virginia State Safety Inspection for the suspension - rust on the rear subframe near right rear wheel well. I found the following information online with regards to this issue: These recalls were issued for the 2003-2006 Subaru Baja , specifically those in the "salt-belt" states for "poor paint quality on the subframe components which led to rusting and potential for subframe failure." The recall numbers that I was able to locate online are O3V-153 and WWM-96. I have already reached out to the Customer Advocacy Department of Subaru of America and they are unable to help me because this particular VIN was not tied to this recall. I am unable to get this vehicle inspected because it does not pass due to this issue. This was a KNOWN issue for this year make and model vehicle in the states in which this vehicle has been titled over the last 20+ years. Because of the issue that was found during my state inspection combined with the fact that this vehicle has been titled in "salt-belt" states, I feel that it should been included in with this recall and as such, repaired by Subaru of America. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)